Dust-guard for journal-boxes.



No. 785,976. PATBNTED MAR. 28. 1905.

J. S. PATTEN.

DUST GUARD FOR JOURNAL BOXES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 31, 1904.

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UNITED STATES Patented March 28, 1905.

JAMES S. PATTEN, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

DUST-GUARD F OR JOURNAL-BOXES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 785,976, dated March28, 1905.

Application filed May 31, 1904. Serial No. 210,560.

To all whom it may concern.-

- Be it known that I, J AMES S. PATTEN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Baltimore city, State of Maryland, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Dust-Guards for J ournal-Boxes; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as Will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make an use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in dust-guards forjournal-bearings, and relates more especially to guards for thejournalbearings of railway-cars, street-cars, or the like, where it isdesirable to keep the journalbox partly filled with oil and to preventthe ingress into said box of particles of dust, cinders, or other solidgritty matter.

In most guards as now constructed the guards are formed of two sectionsadjustable centrally to take up wear.

The principal object of my invention is to make a solid guardpracticable by reducing the wear thereon to a minimum.

My invention will be understood after reference t0 the accompanyingdrawings, in which the same parts are indicated by the same lettersthroughout the several views.

Figure 1 shows a vertical section through the journal-box in the planeof the axis of the axle, the axle being shown in elevation. Fig. 2 showsa cross-section along the line 2 2 of Fig. 1 and looking in thedirection of the arrows. Figs. 3 and 4: are details showing the actionof the spring binder and support for the dust-guard. Fig. 5 shows oneform of spring binder and support used in the dustguard. Fig. 6 showsanother form, and Fig. 7 is a fragmentary central longitudinal sectionshowing another manner of connecting the spring-supports.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 5, A represents the axle of the car,having the usual skein A, on which rests the brass or bearing block 0beneath the wedge D, which is supported by the upper part B of thejournal-box B. This journal-box may be of any approved type, preferablyof the Master (Jar-Builders type, and may be closed by any suitable doorB 5 The journal-box is apertured, as at 5 to allow free play to the axleand is provided with the usual recess B having parallel walls 6 and bfor the dust-guard E. This dust-guard may be made of any suitablematerialsuch as iron, brass, fiber, asbestos, &c.but is preferably madeof soft wood having the grain run vertically when the guard is in place,as shown in Fig. 2.

The dust-guard of whatever construction or material seats and rideswithin the recess B around the axle A, and I provide suitable meanscooperating with the dust-guard and the journal-box for holding theformer in intimate contact with the face 6 of the recess D and at thesame time forming an automatically-adjustable supporting means for thedustguard independently of the axle when moved by the latter into anyposition. The object of this will hereinafter more fully appear, and anysuitable means may be provided looking toward this end. For the purposesof illustration, however, I have shown carried near the upper and lowerends of the guard E resilient wires F (shown in Figs. 1 to 5) or theflat spring F. (Shown in Fig. 6.) Where the wires are used, it will beconvenient to insert the same in a groove e (see Fig. 5) and to bend theend f over in a transverse notch 6.

Where a flat spring is used, as shown in Fig. 6, it may be moreconvenient to insert the spring F in a groove 0 and to bend the end fover beyond the shoulder 0 This spring may be held in place by one ormore nails or bolts 0*, or, it is apparent, the construction illustratedin Fig. 7 may be adopted, the wires then passing through the horizontalaperture 6 instead of being set in grooves. In actual construction itmay also be advisable to provide a recess or inset for the spring-arms fand f, which will enable guards of uniform thickness to fitexistingtypesof journal-boxes, the recesses of which corresponding to B may be ofdifferent widths. The recess may be of any suitable shape or depth, andfor the purpose of illustration I have shown the same at e in Fig. 3.

The opening 6 in the dust-guard is made to fit as snugly as practicableover the corresponding portion of the axle, and the effects of thesprings f and f will tend to press the dust-guard firmly against theface I) of the recess B thus forming a practically dust-tight closurefor the inner end of the journal-box. This will not only prevent theingress of dust or other gritty matter, but will also prevent the escapeof the oil which may be splashed up against the outer face of thedust-guard.

As the journal-box rises or falls the clustguard E will move up or downwith the axle; but the spring ends f or f", biting against the wall 6and pivoting thereon, allows a slight vertical play to the dust-guardWithout disturbing the position of the free ends or pivot-points of thespring, as indicated by the full and dotted lines in Figs. 3 and 4. Theresult of this is that in addition to the dustguard being always keptpressed against the wall 6, forming a snug and effective dust and oilseal for the journal-box, the spring-arms f and f, combined with thefriction produced thereby between the dust-guard and the wall 1), form asupporting means for the dust-guard independently of the axle in anyposition of movement, whereby the only wear on the aperture of thedust-guard is during its sliding movement, it being at all other timesheld adjustable in perfect alineinent with the axle. This automaticadjustment and independent support of the dust-guard, relatively to theaxle of course, also prevents the former from pounding against thelatter, as it would do were it left free to move vertically, as is thecase with guards at present. It is apparent that this pounding increaseswear and is a decided disadvantage. Moreover, it will be noted that thegrain of the wood of the dustguard E runs vertically and the wear on thedust-guard is greatest at the top and bottom and least at the sides, sothat the greatest strength of the wood to resist wear is opposed to thefriction of the axle on the dust-guard. Furthermore, the wood will soonbecome soaked with oil and will remain well lubricated when in use.Another advantage of having the resilient wire or spring secured acrossthe top and bottom of the wooden dust-guard is that it will largelyincrease the strength of the dust-guard against splitting and should theguard split will hold it intact.

By the herein-described arrangement there is very little wear on thedust-guard and it will only be necessary to replace it at longintervals, while the dust-guard is highly eflicient in keeping out dustand in keeping in the lubricant, and at the same time it is not likelyto split in the direction of the grain of the wood.

I do not mean to confine my invention to any particular form ofjournal-box or to any particular class or type of rolling-stock, andmany changes in the details of construction might be made Withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention; but

What I claim is 1. A dust-guard for use on journal-boxes,

comprisinga single board perforated to snugly lit the axle and providedwith grooves at the top and bottom extending laterally thereofsubstantially the width of said board, in combination withtransversely-extending resilient metallic strips let into said groovesand bent over inwardly toward each other at their ends to form resilientarms adapted to engage said journal-box at their extreme ends only forforming a pivotal connection therebetween, substantially as described.

2. A dust-guard for use in journal-boxes comprising a board perforatedto fit snugly over the axle, and provided with openings extendinglaterally of the top and bottom of said board, and inwardly-disposednotches adjacent the ends of said openings, in combination withresilient strips embedded Within said openings, extending longitudinallytherethrough and having their ends bent into said notches and projectinginwardly toward each other to form resilient arms adapted to engage saidjournal-box and form apivotal connection therewith, substantially asdescribed.

3. A dust-guard for use in journal-bearings, comprising a wooden boardperforated to fit snugly over theaxle, with grooves in the top andbottom of said board, and notches at the ends of said grooves, and aresilient strip secured in each of said grooves and having its 9 endsbent into said notches and inwardly toward the center of the board toform resilient arms, substantially as described.

4. The combination with a journal-box provided with a recess for thedust-guard, said recess having parallel walls transverse to the axle, ofa dust-guard comprising a board perforated to snugly fit the axle andprovided with openings extending transversely of the top and bottomthereof, substantially the width of said board, resilient metallicstrips embedded in said openings and extending longitudinally therealongand bent upon themselves at their ends to form resilient arms projecting inwardly toward each other on the inner face of said board, thesaid resilient arms hearing at their free ends only against the in sideface of one of the walls of said recess for forming a pivotal connectiontherewith, and pressing said board against the other wall, substantiallyas described.

5. The combination with ajournal-box provided with a recess for thedust-guard, said recess having parallel walls transverse to the axle, ofa dust-guard comprising. a wooden board perforated to snugly fit theaxle and provided with grooves at the top and bottom, extendinglaterally thereof, substantially the width of said board. andtransversely-extending resilient metallic strips let into said groovesand bent overinwardly at the ends to form resilient arms, the saidresilient arms bearing at their free ends only against the inside faceof one of the walls of said recess for forming a pivotal connectiontherewith, and

I pressing said board against the other wall,

the board to form resilient arms, the said resilient arms bearingagainst one of the walls of said recess at their free ends only, andpressing said board against the other wall,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix mysignature 1n presence of two witnesses.

JAMES S, PATTEN.

Witnesses:

A. L. HoUcH, J. STEPHEN GIUs'rA.

